Artwork preview

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dark brown sword guard, tsuba, with rounded edges and scalloped border, two oval-shaped holes in center, one teardrop-shaped, thin tree with gold inlaid flowers on left, dark metal bird on right, Chinese characters on right side of teardrop hole.

Artwork Details

Date
ca. 1615–1868
Medium
Copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, copper
Culture
Japanese
Dimensions
600 × 600 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette